Railway-signal.



E. R. COE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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E. R. COE.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 14. 1914.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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E. R. 00E.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14 I914.

Patented Jan. 9,1917.

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RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14. 1914. 1,211,675. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

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RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l4. m4.

1,21 1,675. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

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FIG 7 INVENTOR "ii AS T FFIQ ELMER R. (JOE, 0F WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

1,211,675, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 9 1917 Continuation of application Serial No. 778,781, filed July 12, 1913. This application filed November 14,

- 1914. Serial No. 872,097.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER R. Con, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway signals of the type comprising a signal device having a normal bias to one position of indication, and an operating motor for moving the signal device to one or more other positions of indication in opposition to such normal bias; and particularly, it relates to signals of this type in which a holding device or clutch device is employed in the mechanism between the motor and thesignal device for operatively connecting the two when the motor is to move the signal device, and for holding the signal device in the one or more positions to which it has been moved by the motor.

More particularly my invention relates to an electromagnetic device which is employed to control such holding device and which when energized permits the holding device to perform its two functions just mentioned.

The electromagnetic device of my invention comprises two parts which are capable of relative movement and which relative movement is prevented when the device is energized, one of which parts has a comparatively high degree of inertia so that when the supply of electric current is cut off from the device, an appreciable period of time-will elapse before the signal device is released to move in response to its bias.

My invention is especially useful for railway signals operated by alternating current, and particularly when such signals have more than two positions of indication and are used in block signaling systems in which the signals are controlled by relays which are governed by reversals of current in the track circuits. In such systems it is obvious that while the relay is reversing from one position to another due to a reversal of current in the track circuit, there is a period in which there is no current flow in the electromagnetic device which controls the holding device, and some provision must be made for holding the signal device against a reverse movement in response to its bias during such period. My invention provides an electromagnetic device which aifords such a provision.

The present application is a continuation of my copending application filed July 12, 1913, Serial No. 778781, for railway signals, so far as the subject-matter common to the two is concerned.

I will describe one form of electromagnetic device embodying my invention, showing its applicationto several forms of signals, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing one form of one-arm, three-position railway signal having applied thereto one form of electromagnetic device H embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the electromagnetic device H shown in Fig. 1, the left hand portion of Fig. 2 being a view of the device in front elevation with cover removed and with part of the internal structure broken away, and the right hand portion being a sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of a signaling system in which are employed signals of the type shown in Fig. 1.. Fig. 5 is a view showing another form of one-arm, three-position signal having ap plied thereto the device H shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a. portion of a signaling system in which are employed signals of the type shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of a signaling system in which are employed signals similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but having two arms each having two positions. Fig. 8 is a fragmental view showing part of themechanism of each of the signals shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmental view showing pinion 14: and racks 76 and 7 6 viewed at right angles to the plane of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, S designates a signal device, here shown as being in the form of a semaphore, which is biased by gravity to the horizontal or danger position,

and is moved to a caution and a clear position, which positions are indicated by dash lines, by a signal operating mechanism 39. As here shown, the semaphore is moved from its danger position upwardly to its other positions of indication, although it is underwhich may be of any suitable type.

stood that by simple changes well known in the art the semaphore may be caused to move downwardly from its danger position to its other positions of indication.

The mechanism 39 is of a usual and well upwardly extending rod 44 the upper end of which is connected with the semaphore S. Pivotally mounted in arm 40 at point 38 is a fork'48 by means of which the arm 40 may be raised andheld. This fork is engaged by rollers 49 carried by two chains 50 and 51, which latter are carried by sprocket wheels 31, 32 and 30. Sprocket wheel 31 is driven by an electric motor 52 through the medium of reduction gearing 54. The semaphore S is held in the caution position by fork 48 resting on latch 46, and in the clear position by fork 48 resting on latch 47.

When the fork 48 is held rigid in the position shown, it will be engaged by rollers 49 so that arm 40 will be raised, and so that the arm will be held in the position. to which it is raised either by latch 46 or 47; but when the fork 48 is released it will swing upwardly around its pivotal point 38 so that the rollers 49 may pass it, and so that it will not be retained by latches 46 and 47. The return movements of the semaphore Sand mechanism toward danger position are cushioned by a bufiing device 53 The fork 48 is controlled by an electromagnetic device H through the medium of a. toggle mechanism comprising a rocking member 34 pivotally mounted at 55, a link 33 connecting fork 48 and member 34, and a hook rod 42 connected with member 34, which hook rod cooperates with the device H as hereinafter explained.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the device H comprises an inclosing case 10 attached to the arm '40 by screws 11, and provided with a cover 22 attached to the case by screws 22. The cover is removed in Fig. 2. The back of the case 10 is provided with an inwardly extending hollow central core 12 which carries a stator 13. The stator 13 comprises as usual a plurality of laminations of transformer iron clamped together between two end plates by a plurality of rivets 14, and it is held in place against a shoulder 1'2 on core 12 by a nut 17- screwed on the threaded end of the core. The stator 7 13 is fixed in the proper angular position bya key 18 fitting into suitable slots in the. core and the stator. The stator 13 is provided with a plurality of slots 1.5, as here shown four in-number,in which is located-a winding. 16 to which alternating current is at times supplied from a suitable source as hereinafter explained. Only one coil is shown in Fig. 2, the other three coils being omitted to-show the slots. The four coils of winding 16 are usually connected in series, and their terminals are led out of suitable hushed holes 59 in the back of case 10. With this arrangement of winding the statorhas four poles-15 ,152 etc.

R is a rotor comprising an umbrellashaped' plate 19, preferably of brass, mounted to rotate in a ball'bear-ing 20 in the core 12, and also in a ball bearing 21 carried in the cover 22. The central portion of this plate is broken away in Fig. 2 to show the winding 16. This plate is provided with a tongue 19*, which projects into the core12 andthrough the bearing 20. The plate 19carries a rotor core 23 comprising as usual a plurality of laminations of transformer iron clamped between the plate and a brass end ring 24 by a plurality of studs 25 of electroconductive material such as brass or copper. The studs 25 serve as rotor bars; as here shown they are four in number, corresponding to the number of stator poles, and are spaced at equal angles. It will be seen that this rotor is comparatively large in diameter and is; of consider able mass, and that it therefore has comparatively high inertia.

A portion of the periphery .of plate 19 is cut away leavinga recess 34- and a shoulder 35. A block 29'having an inclined face 29 is located onthe periphery of the plate at the shoulder 35 and is secured to the plate by screws 33. A latch 26 is pivotally mounted on a pin 27in arm 40, and carries at its other end a roller 28 adapted to ride on the inclined face 29'" when the rotor occupies the position in which it is shown in the drawing. The latch 26 is provided at its pivoted end with a shoulder 36 adapted to engage a hook 37 on the end. of hook rod 42. The parts are so arranged that when the roller 28 is held on the inclined face 29 as shown in Fig. 2, latch 29 is held in such position that-shoulder 36 engages hook 37 to hold the fork 48 rigid in its operative position; but that when the rotor revolves through a small angle in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the roller 28 falls into the recess34 thereby allowing latch 26 to rotate on itspivot through a sufficient angle to release rod 42 and to thereby release fork 48.

The anglethroughwhich the rotor R can case 10. This angle is indicated by a in Fig. 2, and is less than half the angle between the middle points of adjacent stator poles 15. The bars 25 are so located that .when the rotor R occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, when stop 67* is in engagement with stop 68, the bars 25 are each a slight distance to one side of the center line of the corresponding stator pole. This is the position occupied by the rotor It when the stator winding 16 is energized. The angle of oscillation of the rotor is such that when the rotor moves in-the direction of the arrow to the limit of its movement, as determined by the engagement of stop 67 with stop 68, the bars 25 will not reach the lines midway between the stator poles. In other words, each bar 25 is always within the influence of the same pole, and is always on the same side of the middle point of that ole.

p The rotor R is preferably so counterweighted that when arm &0 is in the position corresponding to either the caution or clear position of semaphore S, the rotor will tend to move in the direction of the arrow from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. As here shown, this counterweighting is accomplished by cutting a recess 60 in the periphery of plate 19 at the proper place.

The periphery of the stator laminations 13 is preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 2, so that the air gap between each pole-piece 15 is maximum at the end 00 and decreases gradually to the minimum at about the middle point of the pole-piece, from which latter point the length of the air gap is constant to the other end of the pole-piece. Then the reluctance of a magnetic path such as s is high and there is a strong tendency for the magnetic flux to take a path such as that indicated by Z so that it embraces a bar 25. Since only such flux as embraces a bar 25 is useful in producing torque on the rotor, it is evident that the torque is made greater by the unsymmetrical shape of the poles than it would otherwise be.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: Assume that the semaphore S (see Fig. 1) is in danger position and that rotor R is in the position of its stroke opposite to that shown in Fig. 2. Then when winding 16 is energized, rotor R will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 and will be held there with considerable torque. During this movement latch 26 is swung upwardly, thereby holding fork 48 rigidly in the operative position. Motor 52 is usually energized simultaneously with the holding device, so that chains 50 and 51 are moved, thereby raising the semaphore S to the caution position. If at this point the motor current is cut off, the semaphore will be held in caution position by latch 16.

Then if the motor 52 is again energized the semaphore will be moved in a similar manner to the clear position Where it will be held by latch 47. If at any time during the movement of the semaphore or while the semaphore is held in either caution or clear position, winding 16 is deenergized for a considerable length of time, the rotor R will move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, thereby releasing fork 48 and allowing semaphore S to return to the danger position. If, however, while the semaphore is being moved, or is being held in caution or clear position, the current in winding 16 is momentarily interrupted, the fork 4:8 is not released because, owing to the inertia of rotor R, an appreciable length of time is required for it to start and to move far enough to allow the roller 28 to pass off from face 29*.

I will now explain one condition under which this slow-releasing feature of the electromagnetic device H is advantageous. Referring to Fig. 4:, A, B, and C are three successive blocK sections of a railway track. Located at the entrances of these block sec tions are signals S S and S respectively, each of which may be of the type shown in Fig. 1. Each of these signals is controlled by a three-position relay P, which relays as here shown are of the polyphase induction motor type, each comprising a rotor 63 and two stator windings 61 and 62. Winding 61 of each relay is connected with the track rails, and winding 62 is energized from a source of alternating signaling current G independently of the track rails. Signaling current is supplied to the track rails of each block section from generator G through the medium of a pole-changer Q, operated by the signal for the block section next in advance. Each of these pole-changers is as usual reversed while the signal is moving from danger to caution position and viceversa. The mechanism for each signal is operated by alternating current from the source G, the circuits for each signal being controlled by contacts operated by the rotor 63 of the corresponding relay P. In order to simplify the drawing. I have omitted the motor circuits, and have shown only the circuits for the holding device H. When relay P occupies one extreme position the holding device circuit for the caution position of the signal is closed, and when the relay occupies the other extreme position the holding device circuit for the clear position of the signal is closed as well as the circuit for the caution position. These circuits for the holding device are as usual controlled by a circuit controller 81 operated by the mechanism. The holding device circuits are so well understood as to require no detailed explanation herein.

Block section B is occupied by a train W,

so that signal S indicatesdangerandsignal S indicates caution. When now the train W passes from section B to section C, signalS willchange to caution indication and in sodoing will reverse its pole changer Qflthereby causing relay P of section A to move to its other extreme position. During this operation of the relay the circuit for signal S will be opened momentarily, but this signal will not be released from caution position because this momentary opening will not. be sufficient to permit holding device H to release.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I have here shown another form of signal mechanism 39 having applied thereto the holding device H shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The mechanism shown in Fig. 5 comprises two arms 40 and 40 pivotally mounted side by side, in a frame 80, each of which arms is similar to the arm40 in Fig. 1, each being provided with a fork 48. The motor 52 is operatively connected through suitable reduction gearing 54 with a shaft on which are fixed two sprocket wheels 71, one of which is directly behind the other in the drawing. Each sprocket wheel 71 drives a chain 73 (one of which isbehind the other in the drawing), which chains also pass over two other sprocket wheels 7 2 mounted on a shaft 74. Each chain 73 carries one or more rollers 49; the rollers on one chain are adapted to engage the fork 48 of one arm 40, and the rollers on the other chain are adapted to engage the fork 48 of the other arm 40. The arms 40 and 40 are held at the upper points of their movement by latches 47, one of which is behind the other in the drawing. Each arm is provided with a bufier 75 of a suitable type for cushioning the downward movement of the arm, one of which buffers is behind the other in the drawing. Open atively connected with arm 40 is a rack 76 adapted to slide in a guide 77, and operatively connected with arm 40 is a similar rack 76 (see Fig. 9), which faces the rack 76. Mounted between these two racks is a toothed wheel 78 which engages the teeth of both racks. The wheel 78 is mounted to rotate freely in the bifurcated end of a rod 44 the upper end of which is connected with semaphore S.

The operation of the parts of this mechanism thus far described is as follows: When both arms '40 and 40 are at the lowest point of their movement, the wheel 78 is also at the lowest point of its stroke and semaphore S is in thehorizontal or danger position. When arm 40 is raised to the highest point of its movement it raises wheel 78 through half of its stroke thereby raising semaphore S to its caution position; when now arm 40 is also raised to the highest point of its movement the wheel 78 is raised through the remainder of its stroke thereby raising the semaphore S to its clear position. Arm 40 is provided with a holding magnet 79 of a usual and well known type, the armature of which controls the fork 48 of this arm. Arm 40 is, however, provided with an electromagnetic device H which is the same as the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to Fig. 6, I have here shown diagrammatically a portion of a signaling system similar to that shown in Fig. 4, but embodying signal mechanisms of the type shown in Fig. 5. In this view, as in Fig. 4, I have omitted the circuits for the operating motor, and have shown only the 80 circuits for the holding device H and magnet 79. It will be seen in Fig. 6 that the holding device H (which controls arm 40 is energized when the relay P occupies either extreme position, and that the holding magnet 7 9 (which controls arm 40*) is energized only when the relay occupies one of its extreme positions. It will also be seen that when a relay P moves from one extreme position to the other the holding device H is momentarily deenergized, but that due to the inertia of the rotor of this holding device the arm 40 of the corresponding signal is not released. The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 will be evident without further explanation. The reason for applying a holding device I-I embodying my invention to only one arm 40 of mechanism 89 is that the only time relay P is reversed is when arm 40 is raised and arm 10 40 is horizontal, that is, when the signal indicates caution. A holding device H is, therefore, not required on arm 40 because it is not necessary that the holding device for this arm should be slow-releasing.

4 and 6, I have omitted the circuits for the operating motor in order to avoid confusion, and have shown only the circuits for the holding device H and magnet 79. The operation of the system here shown is substantially the same as that of thesystem shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 7, when the upper contacts of a relay P are closed, the holding device H of the corresponding signal is ener gized and holding magnet 79 is deenergized, hence home arm a is in clear position and distant arm I) is in caution position. When the relay is reversed to its other extreme position, holding magnet 79 is ener' 1 gized and distant arm I) then changes to clear position; during this reversal of the the signals by alternating current and to control each signal by means of a three-position track relay without the necessity for any intermediate slow-acting means for preventing the opening of the circuit of the holding device while the relay is reversing from one extreme position-to the other.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of electromagnetic device embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, a motor, mechanism interposed between the motor and the signal device for causing the motor to move the signal device in opposition to the biasing force, said mechanism including a clutch, and an electromagnetic device for controlling said clutch and comprising two parts capable of relative rotary movement, one of said parts having considerable inertia.

2. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, a motor for moving said signal device in opposition to the biasing force, a clutch interposed between said motor and said signal device, and an electromagnetic device for controlling said clutch and comprising two parts capable of relative rotary movement, one of said parts having considerable inertia.

3. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, and means for holding said signal device in opposition to the biasing force, said means including an electromagnetic device having two parts capable of relative rotary movement one of which parts has considerable inertia.

4:. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, means for holding said device in opposition to the biasing force, said means including an electromagnetic device comprising a stator and a rotor having considerable inertia and means for energizing said stator by alternating current.

5. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, an electromagnetic device comprising a stator and a rotor having considerable inertia, and means It will be seen from the foregoing tha by means of a device embodying my invention, I am enabled to operate and control controlled by said rotor for holding said signal device in opposition to the biasing force. 6. In combination, a signal devlce biased in one direction, an electromagnetic devlce ,comprising a stator having outwardly extending poles and a rotor encircllng said stator, and having considerable inertia, means controlled by said rotor for holding the signal device in opposition to the biasing force, and means for energizing said stator by alternating current.

7. In combination, a signal device biased in one direction, an electromagnetic device comprising a stator having extending poles and a rotor encircling the stator and having considerable inertia, an inclined surface on the rotor, a pivoted member having a roller adapted to ride on said inclined surface, means controlled by said pivoted member for holding the signal device in opposition to the biasing force when the roller is on the inclined surface, and means for energizing said stator winding by alternating current.

8. A railway signal comprising a signal device biased in one direction, an electro-. magnetic device comprising a stator having poles and a rotor having bars equal in number to the stator poles, means for limiting the rotor to oscillation between a position in which the bars are between the ends of the pole-pieces and a position in which the bars are opposite substantially the ends of the pole-pieces, the rotor being biased toward the latter position, and the air gap between each pole-piece and the rotor being greater at the said end of the pole-piece than at the middle, means for energizing the stator by alternating current, and means controlled by said electromagnetic device for holding the signal device in opposition to the biasing force.

9. An electromagnetic device comprising a stator and a rotor, the bars of the rotor and the poles of the stator being equal in number, means for limiting the rotor to oscillation between a position in which the bars are between the ends of the pole-pieces and a position in which the bars are opposite substantially the ends of the pole-pieces, the rotor being biased toward the latter position, and the air gap between each pole-piece and the rotor being greater at the said end of the pole-piece than at the middle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER R. COE.

Witnesses:

J. E. BAUNDEN, A. C. NoL'rn.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

